apendrapew
12-14-05, 08:43 PM
I was thinking about how nanotechnology will let us manipulate matter on very fine scales. Is it conceiveable to develop a technology that will make all particles in an object vibrate in a way that will cause macroscopic locomotion on demand?
This speculation is based on the principle that all objects are made out of particles moving and bouncing off each other in random directions. The faster and more random the activity, the "hotter" the object is. But what if it were possible with radiowaves or magnetism to synchronize the movements of those particles to suit a useful function, like concerted movement?
What if an engine were designed to work on a concept like this. And it was able to absorb the random kinetic movement from its immediate environment to produce mechanical energy. Sure, it would get cold. But you could always couple it to a PEM fuel cell. That would give it some heat to work with. And give you enough juice to play your minidisc player.
Man, that would be sweet.
This speculation is based on the principle that all objects are made out of particles moving and bouncing off each other in random directions. The faster and more random the activity, the "hotter" the object is. But what if it were possible with radiowaves or magnetism to synchronize the movements of those particles to suit a useful function, like concerted movement?
What if an engine were designed to work on a concept like this. And it was able to absorb the random kinetic movement from its immediate environment to produce mechanical energy. Sure, it would get cold. But you could always couple it to a PEM fuel cell. That would give it some heat to work with. And give you enough juice to play your minidisc player.
Man, that would be sweet.